Letter M 15th-16th century

Curator: Here we have a print called “Letter M” by an anonymous artist, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: I must say, it strikes me as quite bold for such a small piece. The heavy black lines give it an immediate graphic quality. Curator: Indeed, and observe the internal radiating lines within the letter form. They create a dynamic tension, almost a vibration against the static block letter. Editor: I'm curious about the printing process itself. You can almost feel the pressure of the block onto the paper, the way the ink sits. It speaks to a history of labor and craft. Curator: An interesting point. Though I am more focused on the visual syntax—the way this simple letter becomes a complex field of intersecting lines and shapes, inviting endless interpretations. Editor: Perhaps, but for me, considering the process, the hand that carved the block, connects us to a tangible history. Curator: A fittingly material perspective. Editor: And a visually stimulating one.